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Healthy Congregations Covenant Program

Reaffirming the commitment

For 12 years, the Health Fund has sponsored Healthy Congregations efforts including grants, annual retreats, and a recognition program. For 2009, the Fund enthusiastically continues its commitment to health ministry through an all-new Healthy Congregations Covenant program supporting health ministry in Kansas United Methodist churches.

Healthy Congregations Covenant program

The new program, based on a covenant agreement between a church and the Health Fund, represents a simplified approach to bring greater participation and better results. Two options are offered to fit differing levels of commitment to health ministries. A signed and accepted Level 1 or Level 2 covenant is required to be eligible for $100 or $1,000 funding under the Healthy Congregations Covenant program beginning April 2009. A covenant is not required for participation in the Healthy Congregations Annual Retreat or for other Healthy Congregations offerings such as online resources, etc.

Program details

Use the links to jump to a particular section, or just scroll through to read all details

Participation options and requirements - select Level 1 or 2:

Level 1 "Covenant of Participation"
Level 2 "Covenant of Action"

The Level 1 covenant is designed for churches either just starting their involvement with health ministry or, for whatever reason, not yet ready to make the fuller commitment encompassed by the Level 2 covenant.

Level 1 churches will receive a $100 grant following completion of each annual Healthy Congregations report. No further reporting will be required.

Each church* that signs a Level 2 covenant, committing to complete the 7 capacity-building modules -- core courses -- of the training will be awarded a $1,000 "signing bonus" to support training, travel, and programs.

When the church team has completed the 7 core courses (become "certified"), it qualifies for a $1,000 grant each subsequent year by reaffirming the covenant and submitting a health ministry activities plan with its report by March 1.

Expectations of Level 1 churches:

  • Identification of a "Health Ministry Coordinator" who will serve as the health ministry point of contact for the church
  • Annual submission of a Healthy Congregations report

Expectations of Level 2 churches:

  • Identification of a "Health Ministry Coordinator" serving as the health ministry point of contact for the church
  • Development of a health ministry team of at least three congregation members.
  • Completion of a Congregational Health Assessment** to evaluate the current level of health ministry involvement
  • Achievement of "certified" status, by HM team completing the 7 core training courses within 24 months from signing
  • Annual submission of a Healthy Congregations report
  • Annual submission of a Healthy Congregations plan for the upcoming year (once "certified")
  • Use of the communications material specifically developed by the Health Fund to focus more attention on health and promote interest in your Healthy Congregations activities.

With participation at either Covenant level, it is expected that the pastor and Health Ministry Coordinator will strive to visibly support the church's congregational health ministry and model healthy behaviors for the congregation. For full details, please see the Covenant signup page.

*Important Notes:

  • See below for list of the "core courses"
  • **Forms and instructions for completing the baseline Congregational Health Assessment will be introduced as part of the Health Ministry 101 core course.
  • A special process applies to churches that have completed the earlier Healthy Congregations in Action (HCIA) pilot project if they elect Level 2 participation.
    • HCIA churches with a health ministry team having at least three active members who participated in the HCIA pilot program are eligible to become "certified" without attending the 7 core training courses.
    • HCIA churches are not eligible for the initial "signing bonus," as the previous HCIA funding served the training and program support purposes the "signing bonus" is meant to fulfill for "new" churches. Exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
  • Special rule about parishes: generally, parishes will be treated as a single entity for purposes of the ability to make a Level 2 Covenant election. However, if separate churches in a parish are able to form distinct health ministry teams, they will be eligible to individually participate at Level 2 upon approval.

Healthy Congregations Report - (all Covenant churches)

The new HC Report fulfills the reporting requirements of the Covenant agreements. The new form focuses on your church's 3 to 5 most successful health ministry activities/events/projects. We're especially interested in knowing about new and innovative programs so we can share that information with other congregations. HC Report forms are available online each year as soon as practicable after the closing deadline of the previous year's report. Churches are encouraged to start their reports early in the year and update them as activities are completed, to avoid a last-minute scramble for details as the deadline approaches. A sample report form is available for viewing here [Word | PDF]. Please do not use these samples to submit a report; use the official online form.

7 Core Courses - (Level 2 churches "in training")

We have found that the 7 "core courses" have a dramatic positive impact on the ability of the team to deliver high quality programs to the congregation. For a church electing Level 2 participation, a health ministry team of at least 3 is expected to complete the "core courses" within 24 months. Once this requirement has been met, the team (and church) achieve "certified" status. The 7 Core courses are:

  • Health Ministry 101 - 3 hours
  • Volunteer Recruitment & Retention - 2 hours
  • Outcomes-based Planning - 2 hours
  • Group Facilitation Techniques - 2 hours
  • Program Options & How to Plan Program Events - 2 hours
  • Health Communications & Marketing - 2 hours
  • Program Evaluation & Using Data - 2 hours

Elective Courses - (all churches)

In addition to the Core Courses, elective courses are available, including:

  • Healthy Church Meals
  • Walking Programs
  • Work/Life Balance
  • Emergency Preparedness

To further their personal growth and effectiveness in health ministry, Health Ministry Coordinators and team members are encouraged to take part in continuing education opportunities, such as the above electives, or other regional or local offerings.

There will be at least 3 opportunities each year to attend training events. Events include the HC Annual Retreat and regional training events conducted in Wichita and four other locations around the state. The schedule of courses, dates, and specific locations is available here. All courses are offered free of charge, but pre-registration is required.

Healthy Congregations Plan (Level 2 "certified" churches)

Development of an annual HC Plan is required of all "certified" Level 2 Covenant churches in order to receive funding. Level 2 churches "in training" may develop a plan as part of their training. The plan will help to focus health ministry work for the following year, and will be able to feed automatically into the following year's report form to simplify reporting. The plan outlines upcoming health ministry projects and the report evaluates the outcomes of those projects after completion. The completed plan is due by March 1 annually, but is expected to be updated and adjusted throughout the year. Submitted plans will be evaluated by the Covenant program administrator and/or Health Fund staff, who retain discretion to request additional information or provide consultation before funding may be released.

How to Get Started

At either Covenant level, it is expected that the pastor will strive to visibly support the church's congregational health ministry and model healthy behaviors for the congregation.

  1. Decide which Covenant level is right for your church (need help? Contact Matt Kuzma)
  2. Set up your personal online Healthy Congregations account
  3. Complete the online Covenant agreement form, print, sign, and mail per instructions on the form
  4. Start working on your HC Report and HC Plan (if applicable) and update as necessary
  5. Submit your HC Report and HC Plan (if applicable) by the next March 1 deadline
  6. Keep in touch with program administrator for additional instructions, if you need to make changes affecting your church's participation (addition or loss of team members, change in contact information, etc.), or if you have any questions

Covenant Program Timelines

Although a church is welcome and encouraged to sign up for the Covenant program at any time, there are specific deadlines associated with funding availability.

  • The Healthy Congregations Report is required of ALL Covenant churches for continued funding. The report covers activities throughout the calendar year listed on the report form.
    • 2009 report forms will remain online through March 1, 2010.
    • Churches in, or signing up for, the covenant program before March 1, 2010 must submit a 2009 report no later than March 1, 2010 to receive $100 or $1,000 funding (beyond the Level 2 "signing bonus").
    • As soon as possible after March 1, 2010, the 2010 report forms will be available.
    • A report may be started and updated throughout the year, then submitted when finished. Once submitted, reports are final and cannot be changed.
  • The Healthy Congregations Plan is required of all "certified" Level 2 Covenant churches. Level 2 churches "in training" may submit a plan but are not required to.
    • The 2009 HC Plan may be started through Sept. 30, 2009
    • The 2009 Plan, if started, may be updated through Dec. 31, 2009
    • The 2010 Plan may be started Oct. 1, 2009 through Sept. 30, 2010
    • Once started, the 2010 Plan may be updated through Dec. 31, 2010
    • To receive $1,000 funding as a "certified" Level 2 church, plan must be submitted by March 1 of the plan year and approved by the program administrator and/or HF staff.
  • Funding timeline
    • Level 1 churches submitting a qualifying report by March 1 will receive $100 following report processing. All reports are processed together once the deadline passes. April is the target month for payment, depending on processing time.
    • "In Training" churches signing a Level 2 Covenant will receive a $1,000 "signing bonus" following acceptance by HF staff and necessary processing time.
    • During the training period, Level 2 churches are not eligible for further $1,000 funding beyond the "signing bonus" but remain eligible for $100 HC Report funding with a timely and complete report.
    • Level 2 churches, once "certified," may receive $1,000 annually following March 1 deadline as long as requirements continue to be met.
    • The $1,000 "signing bonus" is the only payment processed as needed throughout the year. All other program funding is keyed to the March 1 deadlines.

More Details Available

For more details, read the HC Covenant brochure [pdf] and the HC Covenant agreement form. Sample Report Forms [Word | PDF] or Sample Planning Forms [Word | PDF] are also available (for reference only; don't submit using the sample forms)

HCIA Church List

  • Almena, Clayton, and Norcatur UMCs
  • Beloit First UMC
  • Cherryvale UMC
  • Colby UMC
  • Columbus First UMC
  • Copeland UMC
  • Dodge City First UMC
  • Emporia Grace UMC
  • Fredonia First UMC
  • Harveyville UMC
  • Hoisington First UMC
  • Humboldt/Big Creek UMC
  • Hutchinson First UMC
  • Jerusalem Road Parish
  • Kechi UMC
  • Marion Valley UMC
  • Ottawa First UMC
  • Otterbein UMC
  • Rose Hill UMC
  • Russell Trinity UMC
  • Salina Trinity UMC
  • Salina University UMC
  • Tecumseh UMC
  • Tecumseh Shawnee Heights UMC
  • Wichita Cedar Chapel and Brookside UMCs
  • Wichita Chapel Hill UMC
  • Wichita Saint Mark UMC